1888. Runciman, The Chequers, p. 80. I'd put a new head on yer for tuppence.
2. (colloquial).—To froth malt liquors. [E.g., 'Put a head on it, Miss,' addressed to the barmaid, is a request to work the engine briskly, and make the liquor take on a cauliflower (q.v.)]
Heads I win, tails you lose, phr. (common).—A gage of certainty = In no case can I fail: I hold all the trumps.
1890. Welfare, Mar., p. 8., c. 1. A director holding shares to the extent of £50 will draw a yearly recognition of his patronage to the tune of £100. It is unnecessary to ask whether such a course of speculation follows the principle of tails you lose, heads I win.
To get the head into chancery, verb. phr. (formerly pugilists': now common).—To get the other fighter's head under one arm and hold it there; a position of helplessness. See Chancery.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, p. 18. When Georgy, one time, got the head of the Bear into chancery.
2. (colloquial).—Hence to get, or be got, into a posture of absolute helplessness.
To knock on the head, verb. phr. (common).—To kill; to destroy; to put an end to.
1871. Weekly Dispatch, 21 May. 'Police Report.' The magistrate (Mr. Newton) refused the application for bail, remarking that the sooner the house was done away with the better, and he would take care that it and all connected with it were knocked on the head.
To get (or put) the head in a bag. See Bag.
To get (or have) a swelling in the (or a big-) head, verb. phr. (common).—To be or become conceited; to put on airs.
1888. Cincinnatti Enquirer. Anna Kelly . . . is missing from her home in Newport. Somebody has been swelling her head.
1890. Star, 27 Jan. Although he received but £100 for his share, he got the big head, went to pieces, and is now on the retired list.
To hit the right nail on the head, verb. phr. (common). To speak or act with precision and directness; to do the right thing. [The colloquialism is common to most languages. The French say, Vous avez frappé au but (= You have hit the mark). The Italians, Havete dato in brocca (= You have hit the pitcher: alluding to a game where a pitcher stood in the place of Aunt Sally (q.v.)). The Latins, Rem acu tetigisti (= You have touched the thing with a needle: referring to the custom of probing sores.]
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., iii., 21. The common Proverb as it is read, That a Man must hit the nail on the head.
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, p. 43. That's what I meant when I said that that josser, whose name I've forgotten 'ad 'it the right nail on the 'ead.
To argue (or talk) one's head off, verb. phr. (common).—To be extremely disputative or loquacious; to be all jaw (q.v.).
1892. Milliken, 'Arry Ballads, p. 22. Argue your 'ead off like.
To bundle out head (or neck) and heels, verb. phr. (common).—To eject with violence.
To have no head, verb. phr. (common).—1. (of persons). To lack ballast; to be crack-brained. See Apartments to Let. Hence, to have a head on = to be cute, alert; to have sand (q.v.).
